Member-only story
How much sleep do you think you need each night? And how much sleep would you say you’re actually getting? If you’re like most people, more than 60 percent, your sleep requirements are not being met. You need more sleep than you’re getting, and though we live in a society that prizes constant motion over sitting still, you may not be able to afford the sleep debt you’re in.
For many people, the busier they are, the better. If they’re not doing something every moment of the day, something is wrong. It seems we’ve been taught to view sleep as a luxury, something for people who have time for it. That’s an unfortunate viewpoint because not only does enough sleep help you act like a decent human being, it helps your body replenish and heal. It is vital to physical and mental health.
Physical pain, stress, hormones, pharmaceutical and recreational drugs, alcohol, chronic illness… these are some of the things that can get in the way of a good night’s sleep. But it’s important to address these factors because sleep is crucial. The quality of our sleep has an impact on almost every system, cell, and tissue. Research shows that chronic sleep disruption increases risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes, depression, cardiovascular disease, and a host of other issues.
What Happens To Your Brain If You Don’t Get Enough Sleep?
In a lot of ways, how good of a day we have begins with how well we slept the night before. When we don’t sleep so great, one of the first things to go is our mood. Next is the ability to pick up new information or recall details. This may leave us feeling slow, disconnected, “out of it”. Sleep plays a huge part in learning and memory, so it may also be tougher for the brain to store memories from the day so you can recall them later. Sleep helps the brain reset itself so it’s ready for whatever life throws at it next.
As you may be aware, Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia. It’s associated with memory loss, cognitive impairment, and ultimately, a precipitous decline in the ability to function in daily life. It’s a frightening…
